Man charged in highway beating

Staff reports

Updated 8:04 pm, Friday, November 1, 2013

STAMFORD -- A man was arrested Thursday morning for beating up an employee of his brother on a highway exit ramp, police said.

Pedro Bastardo, 29, of 80 Richmond Hill Ave., Stamford, was charged with second-degree assault and ordered held in lieu of $2,500 bond at his arraignment at state Superior Court in Stamford on Thursday afternoon.

Sgt. Paul Vaccaro said Bastardo and the assault victim were driving back from New York City when the two got into an argument.

The victim worked for Bastardo's brother at a barbershop, and Bastardo became angry and yelled at the employee after concluding he was being ungrateful to him and his brother, police said.

When the two got to the foot of the Interstate 95 exit 8 ramp and the car was stopped at a red light, Bastardo grabbed the victim when he tried to jump out of the car, reports said. Bastardo then beat the man and left him injured by the side of the road, Vaccaro said.

A passing motorist called police around 5 a.m. and brought the victim to Stamford Hospital for treatment, Vaccaro said.

After an interview at Stamford Hospital during which the victim recounted the incident, officers went to Bastardo's home and arrested him at 6:40 a.m., Vaccaro said.